Coupling device



y 5- w. w. MOWER ETAL ,3

I COUPLING DEVICE Filed June 19 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l III-- a, q, Q

/0\ w v O /0 Fig. 2

INVENTORS.

Patented May 22, 1945 I r I COUPLING nnvron ,r 'william W. Mower andWilliam F. Van Loenen, f

-. Los Altos Caliii, assignors to The Permanente Metals Corporation,Oakland, Calif., acorporatlon of Delaware Application June 19, 1944,serial No. 541,061)

(Cl. 284-4) f v v H 10 Claims.

This invention relates to coupling devicesfor pipes and the like,particularly of the type useful in systems where it is desired to" keepthe material to be conveyed from contact with the air or atmosphere, orto prevent itfrom spilling or the like. 31 V 'It is an object of ourinvention to provide a rial remaining in the coupling is spilled-orexposed to the atmosphere when the conveying line is opened. Itisanother object of our'invention to provide a coupling device which, whenthe valves are opened, aflords uninterrupted and unimpeded passage tomaterials flowing {thru' its channels, particularly where thesematerials are finely divided solids conveyed by means of a carriergasw I*1 The coupling device of this invention comprises a valvestructurehaving-a minimum of elements to which motion isimparted, andhaving passages which permit unobstructed flow 'ofmaterials thru' thedevice. The-latter is partic ularly'advantag'eous in conveying solids,such as powdered materials. In the coupling device oithis invention, thevalve closure members are adjacent eac'hother, preventing loss orexposure to i the atmosphere of materialupon separation of the valvemembers whenthe valves are in the closed position.

Our coupling device comprises two separable housings, or couplingmembers, containing valve closuremembers having curvilinear surfaces androtatable in the housings, the valve'closure members havingtransversechannels therethru, the housings containing also suitableinlet and outlet means. Each cylindrical element has a recess adapted toreceive a segment of the surface of the adjacent cylindrical'element;The valve closure members aredisposed within'the housin members insuitable curvilinear-recesses therein. In one preferred embodiment ofour invention; the coupling device comprises two housing members whichabut along one face, each housing member havingan aperture in therearward wall, that is, the'wall in each section farthest from theabutting face, adapted to receive a materialeconductingconduit or pipe,each "section having a cylindrical recess into which is fitted acylinder perpendicular tothe axis' of the apercoupling device inwhichthe valve closure members abut each other so that none of the matei recessed longitudinally in the region'of one end of the channel toaccommodate a segment of the second cylinder, and the secondcylinder'issimlarly-recessed in the area between the channel ends to accommodatea'segment' of the first cylinder. Each housing member also'has an aperture' injthe forward wall-thereof andtherecess in the enclosed valveclosure member is brought into register with this forward aperture whendesired. The cylinders areturned to the open or clearly described belowwith referenclf to "the accompanying'drawings in which? '1 r Figure 1 isa perspective-view of the assembled coupling device showing oneaperture,"which may bean inletor outlet, as desired;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the separated sections of the device;showing the valve" members at the openposition; I

Figure 53; is a sectional view of the assembled coupling device alongthe line" 3'3 of Figure-1, showing the-valves in the open: positiomj'Figure 4 is the same view, butshowing the valves in the closed position;I Figure 5-is a sectional view of the assembled coupling longitudinallyalong the diameters of the cylinders, showing the valves in the-openposition,

In the drawings, 10 anda're the bases of housing elementsof thecoupling, H, H are the heads of the housing elements .which are securedto the bases ,bybolts l2 when the coupling ture and rotatable within thehousing and within isassembled. Apertures IS in the rearward walls ofthe bases 10 are shown inthis embodiment as threaded, and areadaptedto'receive pipes or connections of other conveying means for the,

materialto be handled, notshownl Cylinders [4 and I5, are receivedwithin'recesses or spaces It, in bases [0, extensions llprojecting-above housing heads H and being suitably finished at I8 inpolyhedral shape to provide means whereby the valve member may, begmsped and rotated, as with a wrench;.. The cylinders are Sup ortedwithin the bases l0 'onfpfrojectioris 26 which are seated in cylindricalrecesses lsi'nthe bases and provide therewith the bearingfsuriaces intuming, the valve closure members; or cylinders. Apertures2l, 21 intheabuttingjfaces ofhousing members Ill, H! are closed 6ff'by"therespective cylinders when the valve'mernbers are-in the closed positionand these apertures register with the longitudinal recesses;- 2iQjand22f in the surfaces of the valve members-as 'willbe described' 5 y as emore fully below. Each cylinder, therefore, inro presented at that face.

, As shown in Figures 3 and 4, cylinder 15 has a recess 2|longitudinally of'its face whichre-v cier between the' ends of channel2|] thereof and,

' section-of thecouplingdevice has beam-similarly 'tion the device.fllhe sections-are then ijoined and fastenedvtogethen-= inorder'itovassure -t'ight A pipe; mise' er ather conveying =d'evice isscrewed into, otherwise attaohed --to, an" inlet aperture "l3;

'A notlijr-tube, pine ortheYlike"is similarly at 1 7mir w sd i-mesn Qthas 2. icyli srsj her there is no "loss of material by leakage nor isthe material exposed to the atmosphere.

' This device is particularly useful in systems for conveying pyrophoricmaterials; For example, a pyrophorio powder can be conveyed thru thiscon-- pling by an inert carrier gas in uninterrupted jects slightlybeyond the abutting, face ofv the? housing except when the longitudinalrecess is Channels ZO eXtendYthruthe cylinders perpendicular to theiraxes and, when'the valves} are in the open' position, are axiallyaligned with apertures Hagticl' with each other; viding a continuouspassage for unobstructed flowof ma-1 terial thru the coupling device. v

der' remaimng' in'the dev ce is not exposed to the atmosphere and thedanger of combustion upon contact with air or other gaseous medium isavoided The device is also useful in joining a ceives in abuttingrelationship a segment of the surface of cylinder [4 at the inner end oinel 2o. Cylinder 14 has a similar'reee gfwn is located in the area onthefsufface*ofth cyli connecting a truck-with a trailer. .The truck andtrailer canjbe'separated and rejoined, or another vehiclejs lgstituteq'ior either, without loss of fluid or admission of air to the hydraulicfluid line. 1 1 Y In'another suitable embodiment of the appa atusoi ourinvention, eachseparable housing memas shown in this figure, isconvenientlyg iocate dg about midway oiithe surface between the chaml'nel endings, or, at about 90 from each such endjlao ber-contains'arecess which is spherical in shape 1 2s; i mhe l e mt mbe srzareene edandalso contains 1 an aperture in; the rearward H V 4 wall adapted toreceive a nr a-teriali-conducti-ng ,a f l sur a fe e 1 .17 in d str peand an-aper ure linrthe-iorward i :Thev l e esu e membersarealso sphe- 2me in ancilhavet ans er e chan el r to i s-sh wni iisurs a;

' s ums-m m ers a ind nt tionsorr c in its. a ce at itbis d: Qt transvese han el which is ia tedt rec ive 2 es i suitab viness und 9 t at th irunc ures wugh'sssasssa lei-e an.

11 e mfip sr t nd men .n daape turezinthe ea; Se h lind rsan br Wthin-which sewe s;-

A l are ground 9 a ttflibikfifis betw en-thermostat 1 sm e eg-:heteatime devicesmwv the the saw u: figures the cylindrical valueclosure: m m ner is projectin a ove the; i11$d1,0; shi ma -,bes-raspedin 1 341613 to iazdlillstfzthe. position 110i: the valveiGlQSl-DRE member. Y Whenthe; complementary ast, a bee s m rs ietllsshewassembled, one cylinder is adjusted so as rto pre jifl gg g agf ififtggigggg 1 sent itsEIeceSSedI rtiomattheg lane ares-e arai Lama p0 p pt n a lxem si ieiasemw ru i,

jointsf adjaiiefit r'sufiiaoe s arefsui-tablyground- 1:0

" l hedevioe-operaites in-the fol-lowingmanner.'

leading; let-'us say forexamril'e, to-cylinder M'fj I 'ta hed *to theaperture I 3 leadi'n 'tjo cylinder l5; The quniiiis ge tiqs A ami'B' ni'atf acesi 1 qifi atmfis m.

nt nt on wit snirlitand made, jinstheidetails-zofz this;

denarting .:from 1' the; broader: $QE8Q theannended filain bsri-f"; L'hed our: inmention; Iwh

. 3stamens;assistsMasses;

ii 'f lt e powline suchas the lines for hydraulic brake systemsconducting material thersthru. One of. the valve] sergeants assure-met iI into r ist housing inembe'rsjea'ch ncusmgmemper contain ing acurvilinear recess having therein 'a, rotat able valve closure-niemben'eachbf said -val-ve closure" members havingfa-j transversechannel therethru, oneof said valve closure members sure members havingcurvilinear surfaces and each adapted to be received by" oneofsa'idfrecesses', each of said valve' closure members havingatransverse channel therethrugonegof said valve closure members" havingat the? end jcf its said channel an indentation 'iadapted" to receive asegmentof the surfaceoffthe second valve closure'memben'the second valveclosure memher having. between the ends of its said channel anindentation in its said curvilinear surface adapted to receive a segmentof the surf-ace of the first valve closure member, said housing memberseach having an aperture in the rearward wall thereof registrable witheach of said transverse channels, and means whereby each said valveclosure member is rotated.

3. An apparatus for handling materials out of contact with airwhich is acoupling device comprising two separable housing 'members, each housingmember having a curvilinear recess therein and'having an aperture in thereward wall thereof and an aperture in the forward wall thereof, arotatable valve closure member having a curvilinear surface disposedwithin each of said curvilinear recesses, each said valve closure memberhaving a transverse channel therethru, one of said valve closure membershaving at the end of its said channel an indentation adapted to receivea segment of the surface of the second valve closure member andregistrable with the said forward aperture in the first housing member,the second valve closure member having in its surface between the endsof its said channel an indentation adapted to receive a segment of thesurface of the first valve closure member and being registrable with theforward aperture in the second housing member, the said rearwardaperture in each housing member being registrable with the transversechannel of the said .valve closure member disposed therein, and meanswhereby each said valve member is rotated.

4. A coupling device comprising two separable housing members, eachhousing member containing a cylindrical recess having therein acylindrical valve closure. member, each of said valve closure membershaving a transverse channel therethru, one of said valve closure membershaving at the end of its said channel a longitudinal recess adapted toreceive a segment of the second valve closure member, the second valveclosure member having a longitudinal recess between the ends of its saidchannel adapted to receive a segment of the first valve closure member,said housing members each having an aperture in the rearward wallthereof registrable with said transverse channels.

' i 531 "coupling device 1 comprising" two 1 separable housing members,each housing member contai'n ing a cylindrical recesshaving there'inacyli'r-b drical valve closure member, each of; "sa'id' valve closuremembers having "a transverse; channel therethru', on'e' of said valveclosure" members having at the e'nd of its channela longitudinal recessadaptedfto receive a segrnent oi the sec closure mem'be'r' having alongitudinahrecess be"- tvveen the ends ems said channel adaptedto receive a segmentbf'the first v'alve closure'memher, and fmeans wherebyeach offisa'idvalve clo-' sure members is --rotated 'said' housing'membe'rs each having an aperture in the rearward' wall thereoi'registrable with s'aid transverse clianhel. 6 apparatus for handling"materials' outmf contact withair which is a coupling devicecom prising"twoseparable housing members; each housing member containingacylin'drical recess I having therein l a cylindrical valve closuremember, each of said valve closure membershaving a-transverse channeltherethru, one offsaid valve closure" members having at the end' of itsjs'aid channel a j ngitudinal reces's adapted to receive a segmentof'the second valve closure member, the second valve closure member havinga longitudinal recess between the ends of its said channel adapted toreceive a segment of the first valve closure member, said housingmembers each having an aperture in the rearward wall thereof registrablewith said transverse channel. v

7. An apparatus for handling materialsout of contact with air which is acoupling device comprising two separable housing members, each housingmember having a cylindrical recess therein, a cylindrical valve closuremember dissaid valve closure members having at the'end of its saidchannel a longitudinal recess adapted to receive'a segment of the secondvalve closure member, the second valve closure member having alongitudinal recess between the ends of its said channel adapted toreceive a segment of the first valve closure member, said housingmembers each having an aperture in the rearward wallthereof,

' said channels and said apertures being axially aligned when said valveclosure members are in the open position.

8. An apparatus for handling materials out of contact with air which isa coupling device comprising two separable housing members, each housingmember having cylindrical recess therein, a cylindrical valve closuremember disposed within said cylindrical recess in each housin -member,each of said valve closure members having a, transverse channeltherethru, one of said valve closure members having at th end of itssaid channel a longitudinal recess adapted to receive a segment of thesecond valve closure member, the second valve closure member having alongitudinal recess between the ends of its said channel adapted'toreceive a segment of the first valve closure member, means whereby eachoi said valve closure members is rotated, said housing members eachhaving an aperture in therearward wall thereof, said channels and saidapertures being axially aligned when said valve closure members are intheopen position.

9. An apparatus for handling, materials out of contact with air which isa coupling device comprising two separable housing members, each housingmember having a cylindrical a v gndshawingj-anapeztune m the urearward Imugthereof and a, reataugular aperturedn the Inward wall thereof; :acylindrical walveclosure mem endispogedwitbin'said cylindricaLr-ecess ineaqh; ;housing 1 member, each *said gv alve closure 'membenhavina-g,iransvgrse channel therethru pnezqi saidhvaly closure members havinghatthe:

thereinndihavinsfl n-apenwm-mft e r r n d thgreqgtt g cylindrical valve-plqgummember dis end. 10:: its id-ch n wah'loni udimi adaptedtd receivea,- segment of the,- second .valve 7 .c-lnsure member and vbeingregistrable with said} rectan u ar apqrvture-in saidiorwam wan-oL-its vsaidho m rl t e. e nm fi cl s m mb r vin za n u in llre essw e ends-0fitssaid channel adapted .to xgcei've a. seg

mentrpfthe first valve closur ermember and being 1 eg-i t.z a b1e-withsaid zec'tangularabertuge in said;

forwardyyall ofits said housing member, the said sarwardawm e 1 41 saidm s m e i f being rggisuable withth -.transve1 se=chanpel 0f 1 m aidwaive nclosure member disposed therein,

' 1. Ana p or h nq n m teri s o t i 7 dntact with air which is acoupling. .devicg'comin tww n b hhq in ane e ea hou insr me h s c li a rcg ihe gnd of itslsaid chazjz ellalohgitildihal shire; mam] her'haiiingiiq' ifisf sliijfae aween th' endsnrm .bhannel {longitudinalre'ss aqajatea pb'receplg as'egniniidf [:h. urraibfih first val'veclosure mmber and being regisfarQh Ig ,jhe forward :gpgrtgre m the"Sebnd hbiisiii member, '.the said forward walls "I clo qre'membersymtated; V SWINE!

